Difference between revisions of "2022 AIME I Problems/Problem 1"

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Let <math>R(x)=P(x)+Q(x).</math> Since the <math>x^2</math>-terms of <math>P(x)</math> and <math>Q(x)</math> cancel, we conclude that <math>R(x)</math> is a linear polynomial.
 
Let <math>R(x)=P(x)+Q(x).</math> Since the <math>x^2</math>-terms of <math>P(x)</math> and <math>Q(x)</math> cancel, we conclude that <math>R(x)</math> is a linear polynomial.
  
Note that the graph of <math>R(x)</math> passes through <math>(16+16,54+54)=(32,108)</math> and <math>(20+20,53+53)=(40,106),</math>
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Note that
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<cmath>\begin{alignat*}{8}
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R(16) &= P(16)+Q(16) &&= 54+54 &&= 108, \\
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R(20) &= P(20)+Q(20) &&= 53+53 &&= 106,
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\end{alignat*}</cmath>
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so the slope of <math>R(x)</math> is <math>\frac{106-108}{20-16}=-\frac12.</math>
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It follows that the equation of <math></math>R(x)<math> is </math>R(x)=-\frac12x+c<math></math> for some constant <math>c.</math> We substitute <math>x=20</math> into this equation to get <math>c=116.</math>
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Therefore, the answer is <math>R(0)=c=\boxed{116}.</math>
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~MRENTHUSIASM
  
 
==Solution 2 (Quadratic Polynomials)==
 
==Solution 2 (Quadratic Polynomials)==

Revision as of 15:57, 17 February 2022

Problem 1

Quadratic polynomials $P(x)$ and $Q(x)$ have leading coefficients $2$ and $-2,$ respectively. The graphs of both polynomials pass through the two points $(16,54)$ and $(20,53).$ Find $P(0) + Q(0).$

Solution 1 (Linear Polynomials)

Let $R(x)=P(x)+Q(x).$ Since the $x^2$-terms of $P(x)$ and $Q(x)$ cancel, we conclude that $R(x)$ is a linear polynomial.

Note that \begin{alignat*}{8} R(16) &= P(16)+Q(16) &&= 54+54 &&= 108, \\ R(20) &= P(20)+Q(20) &&= 53+53 &&= 106, \end{alignat*} so the slope of $R(x)$ is $\frac{106-108}{20-16}=-\frac12.$

It follows that the equation of $$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)R(x)$is$R(x)=-\frac12x+c$$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg) for some constant $c.$ We substitute $x=20$ into this equation to get $c=116.$

Therefore, the answer is $R(0)=c=\boxed{116}.$

~MRENTHUSIASM

Solution 2 (Quadratic Polynomials)

Let \begin{align*} P(x) &= 2x^2 + ax + b, \\ Q(x) &= -2x^2 + cx + d, \end{align*} for some constants $a,b,c$ and $d.$

We are given that \begin{alignat*}{8} P(16) &= 512 + 16a + b &&= 54, \hspace{20mm}&&(1) \\ Q(16) &= -512 + 16c + d &&= 54, \hspace{20mm}&&(2) \\ P(20) &= 800 + 20a + b &&= 53,  \hspace{20mm}&&(3) \\ Q(20) &= -800 + 20c + d &&= 53, \hspace{20mm}&&(4) \end{alignat*} and we wish to find \[P(0)+Q(0)=b+d.\] We need to cancel $a$ and $c.$ Since $\operatorname{lcm}(16,20)=80,$ we subtract $4\cdot[(3)+(4)]$ from $5\cdot[(1)+(2)]$ to get \[b+d=5\cdot(54+54)-4\cdot(53+53)=\boxed{116}.\] ~MRENTHUSIASM

See Also

2022 AIME I (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
First Problem
Followed by
Problem 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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